Inflatable tire.



INFLATABLE TIRE.

[APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 19:6.

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- INFLATABLE TIRE.

INFLATABLE TIRE.

Continuation of application Serial No. 8?5,'710, filed December 5, ram. 1 This application Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented is,

1916. Serial No. 87,063.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAMILTON CLAY'roN Bosos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Morgan and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Inflatable Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to certain improvements in inflatable tires and more articularly to the inner tubes therefor o' the style the material of which is under compression, instead of in tension, when the tube is incased and inflated.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a thoroughly practicable inner tube of the style stated, and, moreover, one which when deflated will avoid the rupture due -.to rim cutting. In accordance with these objects, the invention provides an inner tube having a structure and shape such that it will have a this formation being such that: (1) the tube may be placed in the casing without the material is very efiectively compressed and the compression will be substantially equalized throughout the tread portion and the sides adjacent to the tread portion, and (3) in which, of the tube, and when the tube is under load, the material thereof will fold in a peculiar manner and present several thicknesses of material between the tread portion of the casing and that portion ofthe easing which is engaged by the edge of the rim of the wheel, thereby preventing rim cutting of the casing or tube.

In the accompanying drawings, I have 40 exemplified certain particular forms of the invention adapted to carry into practice the several purposes in view, but it will be understood that these forms are merely exemplary and that the invention may be variously embodied without departing from its spirit, as defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention,

and wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views :-Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through one form of casing and inner tube, the tube beingshown in deflated condition and not under load; Fig. 2 is a similar view, 55 showing the shape of the inner tube when fixed formation when deflated,-

danger of creasing or pinching, (2) in which in the event of the deflation casing, in that part of the tire wh ch is under load and when the tube is A n Figs. 1 and 2, and A. in Figs. 3, and 5, designate difierent forms of tire cas ings of the clencher type, and B in Figs. 3,

4 and 5 designates a clencher rim for engagement therewith. While both forms show caslngs of the clencher type, it should be understood that my invention is not restricted'to this type, or indeed to any particular type or construction of either ing or rim, as any approved construction and type may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The inner tube, marked Q in Figs. 1 and E2 and C in Figs. 3, at and 5, constitutes the important part of the present invention, and, as clearly shown, is molded or other- "wise suitably formed of resilient compres sible material, impermeable to the passage of air, soft rubber being preferred, and is made thick and heavy so that it will maintain a fixed formation when deflated, effectually close a puncture when its material is under compression, and form a most efi'ective cushion when deflated and under load. The fixed formation referred to includes few wide and pronounced annular depressions in the tread and sides, the tread depressions being separated from the side depressions by bearing portions, and between the side depressions are other bearing pertions, the latter bearing portions conforming to the casing and rim with whith the tube is to be used.

"I it More particularly, as shown in Figs. 3,5 x

pression 3 in its tread. The depression 3 and with a continuous annular de preferably extends substantially across the entire tread portion of the tube and is separated from the side depressions it by bearing surfaces d and 5, which Fr3f 7 :erably form annular outw-ardlypro jectingv looped portions, for contact with the inner ,wall of the casing. The depressions 1 and are separatedfrom'each other, at the rim' 5 side ofathe tire by hearing portions which 7 7 include parts(6.and 7, which are oppositely iiiclined and lie againstthe casing, at the rim side of the latter .substantially throughout their length, and are connected with. each ,m other by the portion '8, which portion 8, in -the form exemplified in Figs. 3, 4: and 5, iengage's'the rim A. The tube U illustrated -'in Figs. 1 and 2' differs from the tube C only in that its bearing portions at the'rlm flql'side arej outwardly curved to confoi'm to the I contiguousportion of the casing, providing pparts 6*,73 and 8? which respectively corre'- spond to the parts 6, 7 and 8 of the tube 0;

ffthei part 8%, -however, lying in contact with both forms preferably extend from a place above-to a place below the center of the tire, the angular disposition of the material at the.. junction of the depressed portions 1 and 2 and bearing portions 6 and 7 of the 'tube C or 6" and 7 of the tube C forming -.-what may be regarded, as shoulders 9 an #10,; respectively.

.7. and 8, intermediate the lower-.ifiargms lof' the side depressions 1 and 2, is of a width materially in excess of the width of the bearing-or contacting surfaces 4' and 5,; SEjQ'and the bearing portions 6 and 7, or 6 and 7 extend to points which are slightly beyond the edges of the rim, that is to say,

slightly beyond the point at 'whichthe-rim cutting" usually occurs. The several annua 1:40alar depressions'or inbows 1, 2 and 3 are pref- I lei-ably equi-distantly spaced. In practice,

the tube is of such size. with relation to that of {the bore of'the casing that when.

inflated its material will be under compres 15' -sion and it willbe-understood that wa the inflation. medium is adlin ed ltlol f"e j :inner tube the material form' ipressions .1,.' 2 a'nd3' will be. reed outwardly' and lie smoothly against the contiguo'us portions of the inner wall of the. casjng; I "It'will be noted that the bearing pore;

,tian 'A'and 5 are not connected 'witheach iother' by any extraneous element or meni her "of a non-expansible or' incompressible,

; t5 mature and hence are. free -to move towardv or away fromleach other WhllQthQtllbB' .b in d, xc p as r rai by frii r' tional contact withthe casing. It will also be noted that the several bearingportions 4, I 5,6 and 7, or 4, '5, 6? and 7". are constantly I 'incontact with the casing while the-tube is];

a being inflatedand ime is deflatedg From the foregoing it will be appare 't I that a tire constructed as described not-o y has the important advantage 'of effectually;

a cured in a simple,single and unitary struc- The bearing surface ad forrned by the portions 6, 7 and 8,- or 6 lowcr edge of the casing and the rim of the rint cutting iof the casing. results and the 'shoulde'rs 9 and 10,-as shown in. Fig. 5, and thereby a'flord'a cushion which will prevent rupture ofthe-casing or tube.

closing any punctures which occur in either i the tread or sides of the inner tube but,

'. furthermore, possesses all of the resiiiency in a novel and peculiar manner and present several thicknesses of material between the tread portion ofthe casing and that portion of the casing engaged by the edgev of the rim of the wheel, thereby effectually protecting the casing against rim cutting and being itself effectually protecteu against cuts at the ,portion adjacent to the rim. All

these severalimportant advantages'are seture which may be readily molded. These advantages will be best appreciated by an understanding of e conditions met with in the use of automobile tires;- A frequent cause of injury to the inner tube of automobile tires arises from the fact fizhat these inner tubes are sometimes creased or folded when they are placed within the casing, or some part thereof are pinched between the 95. wheel when the tire is being placed upon the wheel If a tire is usehlwhen'its tube "is'thuspinched, creased or folded, {ru'pture'soon follows.

It-will be evident that a tube having the within a casingwithout the exercise of any special care on the part of the person who is ap'Xlying the tube. is

outeri-ca'sing automobile tires isdue to the factthat' when the casing'becomes com-. pletely collapsed and the edge of the rim of the. wheel is..;permitte'd to run thereupon walls'iandfabric of the casing are so-,.rup-.

t ured'orweakened thatblow outs soon fol- 5 low, the inner tube being, itself liable to in-' juryfrom the same conditions.

- With the tube herein'describedi; if the a...

becomes-deflated when under load, the side depressions or inbows Land 2 fold-.inwardl andtlie tread inbow 3, straightens to permit the bearing surfaces 4L and 5 to overlap the "-It wilibeapparent that the invention is susceptible .of some change 'and modification without substantialdeparture from the principle-and spirit thereof and for thisreason I do. not WlSh to'be understoodaslimiting myself to the precise arrangement and for m'atioh of the Several partsherein shown, in carrying the 'inventlondnto practice.

. 6 construction herein disclosed maybe placed nother-fre }uent cause ofinjury t o the ,105

The present application is filed as a subtion for Letters Patent filed December 5,

1914, Serial No. 875,710, allowed March 3, 1916.

Having now described the invention, what I believe to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, and what I therefore claim is:

1. In combination with a tire casing, an inner tube, said tube being molded and having a substantially fixed formation in cross section when deflated, the tube when deflated having a continuous annular depression in its tread portion and continuous annular depressions in its opposite sides, substantially equidistantly spaced relative to the depression in the tread portion, the tube being provided intermediate the depressions with bearing surfaces adapted for substantially constant contact with the tire casing, the bearing surface between the inner marginal portions of the depressions in the side faces of the tube being of a width materially in excess of the widths of the two bearing surfaces aflorded between the depression in the tread and the depresions in the sides of the.

tubes, said annular depressions of the tube permitting a reduction of the maximum diameter of the tube when said tube is deflated, the depressed portions of the tube being compressed when the tube is inflated after being placed within the casing.

2. An inner tube for tires, said tube being molded and having a substantially fixed formation in cross section when deflated, said tube when deflated having a continuous annular depresion in its tread portion and continuous annular depressions in its opposite sides substantially equidistantly spaced relative to the depression in the tread of the tube, said tube being provided intermediate the depressions with bearing surfaces adapted for substantially constant contact with the tire casing, the bearing surface between the inner marginal portions of the depressions in the side faces of the tube" being of a width materially in excess of the widths of the two bearing surfaces afforded between the depression in the tread of the tube and the depressions in the side faces of the tube, the material of the depressed portions of the tube being compressed when the tube is inflated after being placed within the casing.

3. An inflatable pneumatic inner tube for tires made of compressible material and molded to have a fixed formation when defiated, the said formation including an annular tread inbow and annular side inbows all of said inbows being wide and pro nounced, the tread inbow being separated from the side inbows by hearing projections, said projections being free to move toward and from each other, the tread inbow extending across substantially the entire tread portion of the tube and the tube having a cross sectional periphery greater than the internal circumference of the casing in which it is to be used, when in its deflated condition, the inner side of the tube having oppositely inclined side walls which are connect ed with the bearing projections by the side inbows, said walls being of such shape as to be in contact with an inclosing casing substantially throughout their length and serving to anchor the tube with relation to the casing.

4. A tire comprising a casing and an inflatable pneumatic inner tube therefor made of compressible material and molded to have a fixed formation when deflated, the said formation includingawide and pronounced annular tread inbow and wide and pronounced opposite, annular side inbows, said tread and side inbows being spaced from each other by bearing projections that are free to move toward and from each other, that portion of the tube that is disposed toward the rim side of the casing comprising outwardly inclined side walls which extend outwardly beyond that portion of the casing at which the latter is engaged by the rim, when the tire is being run in a deflated condition, the juncture of said inclined walls with the side inbows forming shoulders, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that when the tube is deflated and under load the side inbows fold inwardly and the tread inbow straightens to permit the bearing projections to overlap said shoulders to thereby present several thicknesses of material between the tread portion of the casing and those portions of the casing engaged by the edges 'of the rim, to thereby prevent rim cutting of the casing or tube.

In testimony wherof I have hereunto set my hand, at Decatur, in the county of Morgun and State of Alabama, this 24th day of March, 1916.

HAMILTON CLAYTON BOGGS.

topics a? this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,

Washington, E. c." 

